Unleashed 2009 Video

Here it is!  It seems like it has taken forever, but I finally have the video in a format that will post online!   

So, here it is ... the wrap-up video I created for Unleashed 2009 ... enjoy!

The Northview Blog

Northview has a blog up and running ... check it out here ...

http://thenorthviewblog.wordpress.com/

And ... sorry for the lack of updates lately ... especially thoughtful/insightful updates.  My schedule has been insane and I have been out of town with no internet access this past week.  Check back for updates this coming week :-)

New Room

The Preschool Ministry has been growing, growing, growing recently and we're expecting to continue to grow as we move toward 2010 and the opening of our new Worship Center!  So, with the current growth and the expected growth its time to open our 4th preschool classroom!  I've been working on it for a couple days now and its coming along ... slowly but surely.  When its ready we'll be calling it The Attic and it will be for our oldest preschoolers who have not yet entered Kindergarten.  I'm excited to wrap this project up and open the new classroom ... its the "final" thing that wraps up a crazy 6-week period of summer.  Wow ... its already time to start fall programming!

Before.  This room was a "Special Events Child Care Room"

Before.  At one time this was a Children's Ministry Room - before Studio 6.7 was built.

There's a movable wall in the room, which divides it into 2 rooms.  I'll be keeping it open and utilizing both classrooms - making one large room.

Standing in U203 looking into U205 with the wall open

Same photo as above, but after 2 coats of paint.

Looking from U205 into U203.  2 new coats of paint!

Pray for Kate Today

Kate begins her chemo treatments today ... please keep her in your prayers that she would be protected from the nasty side effects of the chemo and that it would work on the tumor in her brain and destroy it.

Where's the Cows?

We told this little guy tonight that he looked like a cowboy ... 

his response ...

 "Cows?  Where are they?" 

Wordless Wednesday

Picnik

one, originally uploaded by shannab11.

Here's an example of something that I've done with Picnik!

Flickr

Have you discovered Flickr?

Its a great website that let's you upload, edit, and organize your photos ... and you can share them online with friends and family!  I've played with it a little in the past, but have really been working with it this week uploading pictures for work and absolutely love it!  Give it a try ... and add me as a friend!

My favorite part of Flickr is a partner website called Picnik - here you can edit your photos.  I've played with some of the features on Picnik and have really enjoyed playing with my photos and being creative.

Knight in the Museum

So ... can you tell my life has been crazy busy lately!  Sorry for the lack of posts!  This past week was Adventure Week at NVCL.  More than 600 different kids attended during the 4 nights and more than 300 different volunteers served during it!  It was an awesome week filled with lessons on Bible Characters and the traits they displayed (Obey - Noah, Trust - Joseph, Rely - Daniel, and Follow - Peter).  As well as fun games, crafts, worship, and lots of fun!  Here's a few pics from the week...

Stop by Studio 6.7 this weekend for additional photos!

Wordless Wednesday

Adventure Week

Wow!  We're halfway through Adventure Week and things are going great!

Here's a few pics...

Kate

I don't know how many of you have been following this story, but if you have here's a video update from Kate's parents ... and if you haven't been - please check out their story and pray for them.  You can read more about Kate here ...  www.prayforkate.com

The Indy Canal

I've been in Indy a little over two years now, but I'm constantly discovering new things to explore.  Over the 4th of July Weekend my roommate from college was in town, so we spent some time exploring the city.  I stumbled upon the Canal a few weeks ago and decided that we should go check it out!  It was such a great time and so relaxing to just walk around the canal, catch up on life, and hang out for awhile.  We went to the part that is located inside White River State Park.

Hope you check it out sometime!

South Dakota - Photos

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Adventure Week

Each summer my church has a HUGE camp for kids 3-3rd grade ... and this coming week is camp!

This year's them is Knight in the Museum ... its based off the movie Night at the Museum.  As of late afternoon on Thursday we had everything finished and were looking for stuff to do!  I don't know if I remember a camp that came together so easily!  

There are almost 300 people serving next week with more than 500 kids attending ... which is awesome!  Tomorrow we'll be doing all the setup after church and then starting on Monday night!  Can't wait ... check out the blog this week for pics!

Keep Praying...

Please keep praying for 5 yr old Kate.  They got a diagnosis this week and it is a rare type of brain tumor ... they have a HARD road ahead.  Pray that Kate will endure the treatments, that God will heal her body, and that they will stay strong in their faith as they walk this deep valley.

Pray too for my friends in Phoenix as they walk alongside them during this time.

For updates go to www.caringbridge.com/mcraekate

South Dakota - Day 3

We’re here and getting started on several work projects.  Ministry on the reservation is tough … and the burnout rate is fast – usually 1-2 years for a pastor on the reservation.  As I told the team, wer’re here to encourage the pastor and do whatever she needs.  There are several things that we’re working on this week that she isn’t able to do herself. 

Our first project today was to begin tearing out and replacing a sidewalk.  We are still in the process of breaking apart concrete – it is a slow process, but going smoothly.  We have all taken turns with the sledgehammer today and will continue to do so tomorrow after church.  We have also been helping Sonya with her home – trimming, weed wacking, mowing, scarping, and painting her garage.  Tomorrow we’ll continue to work on those projects!

Today we were working on Sonya’s yard and one of the teen girls on the team realized that her neighbor was having a ton of trouble moving around, so she took the initiative to go and talk with the neighbor and ask if we would be able to help her in anyway.  The neighbor was more than thankful for the help and tomorrow we’ll be mowing her lawn for her!

As a special treat, Mark and I loaded up all 9 of the kids and took them with us to Mobridge to buy supplies.  I was thinking it would be good for them to see more of the reservation and take a small break after a long morning of work, I wasn’t thinking that meant we would be shopping with 9 kids!I’m not sure what we were thinking taking all 9 of them, but we did it and no one got hurt or in trouble!  After 3 stops at hardware stores and a stop at a grocery store, we made it out alive, but having gotten many strange looks from the townspeople who were out shopping today!

This is quite a special group … they are having a ton of fun and getting a ton of work done, yet experiencing things that they would have never seen in Indianapolis and allowing God to work in their lives during the trip!

Wordless Wednesday

Day 2 - Heading to McLaughlin

It was a restless night, but everyone was up early and ready to go this morning for breakfast.  Larry, a Lakota Pastor, came and spoke to the group.  He gave some great information about the Native American culture, do’s and don’ts, as well as shared a devotional. 

I ran to Sam’s to get our food for the week this morning and then we began the packing process!  And what a process it was.  16 people, 16 pieces of luggage, plus 32 carryon pieces and food for an entire week for a team of 16 fit in 2 vans … barely … but it did!

About two hours into our drive to Standing Rock we had van trouble, but everyone did a  great job and enjoyed a picnic lunch on the side of the road.  While we were calling to have another van come and pick up our stuff, a friend of Jim’s stopped by!  Totally a God thing considering that we were on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere!  The trip turned into almost 7 hours, with a couple of gas stops and bathroom breaks along the way. 

We arrived at McLaughlin and drove through the small town searching for the church.  While we waited for Jim and our luggage, food, and supplies to catch up we enjoyed getting to know the pastor here at the church – Sonya.  She shared some of her story with us, told us more about the reservation, and about here ministry here in McLaughlin.

 Once our stuff arrived we ate dinner and then Jim shared a great devotional on the difference between expectations on a trip and expectancy (going into the trip with your expectations set, vs, expecting God to do something incredible!)  Throughout the week I saw this play out in many different ways.  When we live by expectations we tend to let our sinful selves get in the way, but when we focus with expectancy on what God is going to do incredible things happen!  What I learned is that we remove ourselves and our expectations from the picture and allow God to work in His way and His timing!

On the road to McLaughlin, we stopped in Faith, South Dakota 

(where the dinosaur "Sue" was found)

Pastor Jim Sorum calling for help after one of the vans broke down.

The broken down van and some of our lunch supplies.

Some of the teens who went eating lunch and relaxing while we waited for another van to come.

One of the younger kids on the trip ... waiting for everyone to head to McLaughlin

South Dakota - Day 1

Throughout the week I'll be posting parts of the journal that I kept while in South Dakota.  Since I didn't have internet access and wasn't able to blog about the trip while there - I still want to give everyone an opportunity to read about it!  This post was written on Thursday, June 25th after arriving in Rapid City, South Dakota.

We’re Here!

How long does it take to go from opposite ends of the Minneapolis Airport?  About 25!  Which is the exact amount of time we had after we got off the plane from Indy and got on the plane for Rapid City!  The final call for our flight was made just as we came running around the corner.  Sweaty, out of breath, and tired – all 15 of us made our flight to Rapid City!  Everyone did a great job staying with the group and not complaining when there wasn’t time for a bathroom trip between flights.

Northwest Air has been amazing all day long.  From the ticket counter at Indy where they were extremely helpful and accommodating for a group our size to Minneapolis where they held the plane (much to the dismay of the 10 or so people who thought they were going to get to bump flights and take our seats!)– everything has been extremely smooth.  They have even begun serving peanuts or cookies along with their in-flight drinks!

 We got into Rapid tonight a little earlier than expected, so we took advantage of the evening. and headed to Mt. Rushmore after a quick stop for food at Wendy’s.  I love the innocence of children.  When I said that we were stopping by Wendy’s for dinner one of the younger kids on the trip said … “But I thought they had nothing”.  During our trainings we had talked about how the people we were going to minister too didn’t have the things that we have … and in his mind that meant absolutely NOTHING!

 The trip to Mt. Rushmore was great and gave everyone a chance to walk around a bit after being on the airplane all day.   Here are a few pics from our Mt. Rushmore trip.

July 4th

I don't think I can remember celebrating a July 4th when we dressed and looked like this!

Unfortunately since it was pouring rain I wasn't able to take pics with my camera ... which was a major bummer.  It was CarmelFest '08 when I seriously got interested in photography and started playing with the different functions on my Canon Powershot.  I was hoping this year I'd be able to take some pics with my Rebel XS, but I'll have to wait until next year!

Other than the weather I had a great weekend with friends ... and catching up on sleep!  Stay tuned this week for posts, stories, and info from the South Dakota trip last week.  It was a great trip and gets better every day as I catch up on the sleep that I didn't get last week :-)

Keep Praying...

I forgot to include this earlier, but here's the link to Kate's Caringbridge Site...

www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate

Prayers

Would you pray for this family today and in the days ahead?  They are friends of some of my friends who are living in Phoenix.  On Monday they found out that their 5-year old has a brain tumor ... the doctors are operating today - probably starting anytime now.

Wordless Wednesday

(This post was prescheduled)